[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 96 (Thursday, May 16, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24728-24729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12346]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 658

[I.D. 050896B]


Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Texas Closure

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Adjustment of the beginning date of the Texas closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces an adjustment of the beginning date of the 
annual closure of the shrimp fishery in the exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ) off Texas. The closure is normally from May 15 to July 15 each 
year. This year the closure will begin on June 1, 1996. The Texas 
closure is intended to prohibit the harvest of brown shrimp during the 
major period of emigration from Texas estuaries to the Gulf of Mexico 
so the shrimp may reach a larger, more valuable size and to prevent the 
waste of brown shrimp that would be discarded in fishing operations 
because of their small size.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The EEZ off Texas is closed to trawl fishing from 30 
minutes after sunset, June 1, 1996, to 30 minutes after sunset, July 
15, 1996, unless the latter date is changed through notification in the 
Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael E. Justen, 813-570-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery is managed 
under the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of 
Mexico (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council and is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 658 
under the authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act. The FMP implementing regulations at 50 CFR 658.26 describe the 
Texas closure and provide for adjustments to the beginning and ending 
dates by the Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, under specified 
criteria.
    Biological data collected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife 
Department indicate

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that brown shrimp will be leaving the Texas estuaries later than 
normal. This information and other data meeting the FMP's criteria 
indicate that beginning the closure on June 1, 1996, is necessary to 
provide adequate protection of small brown shrimp emigrating from the 
Texas estuaries.
    Accordingly, the time and date as provided at 50 CFR 658.26(a) for 
beginning the Texas closure is changed from 30 minutes after sunset May 
15, 1996, to 30 minutes after sunset on June 1, 1996. During the 
closure, the area described at 50 CFR 658.26(a) is closed to all trawl 
fishing, except that a vessel may trawl for royal red shrimp beyond the 
100-fathom (183-m) depth contour. The waters of Texas will also be 
closed commencing at 30 minutes after sunset on June 1, 1996.
    The termination date of the Texas closure may be adjusted to 
conform to the termination date of the closure in the waters of Texas. 
If adjusted, notification of the revised termination date will be 
published in the Federal Register.

Classification

    This action is authorized by 50 CFR 658.26(b) and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: May 10, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-12346 Filed 5-15-96; 8:45 am]
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